Joshi's aide among accused, but no arrests yet

The police have made no arrests yet in the attack on Vineet Mahajan, a lawyer who had filed the case of dual votes and other charges against BJP minister Anil Joshi, even as BJP councillor Prabhjeet Ratoul has been named as the one of the 8-9 attackers.

In protest against the inaction, the Congress is gearing up to gherao Joshi's local Medical Enclave residence on Tuesday. As the BJP and SAD leadership plans to counter the protest, police are on toes.

Ratoul is a close confidant of local bodies minister Joshi and has been termed the mastermind of the assault, which was carried out in broad daylight on the busy Court Road on Saturday and left Mahajan and his younger brother Avneesh injured.

On the statement of Mahajan, the police had registered a case under section 307 for attempt and other charges under the Indian Penal Code at the Civil Lines police station on Sunday. Mahajan claimed in his statement that he recognised Ratoul among the attackers who used sharp-edged weapons.

Initially, the FIR was registered against unidentified persons but upon investigations the name of Ratoul was added. The police claim to have some clues about the others but have not disclosed any more names.

Meanwhile, Congress incharge for Amritsar North segment, Karamjit Singh Rintu, told HT on Monday that they were mobilising workers for the protest.

All senior leaders from Amritsar and the adjoining districts are expected to take part.

The police too are making elaborate security arrangements as the BJP and SAD local leadership had reportedly issued threats during a meeting with the commissioner of police, Jatinder Singh Aulakh, on Sunday, and said, "We also know how to take to the streets."

Aulakh has stressed, "No one will be allowed to take the law into his hands. We will maintain peace at all costs."